LOCAL AND GENERAL

Taranaki Daily News, 17 October 1931, Page 6

LOCAL AND GENERAL

A Gazette notice issued, on Thursday evening formally brings tho • combined schools at Napier, Nelson and New Plymouth under the regulations relating to the maintenance, staffing and administration of combined secondary and technical schools. The regulations were made by Order-in-Council three weeks ago. There is one dog in New Plymouth that has had the singular adventure of an aeroplane trip. Held by his master in the passenger seat behind the pilot, he was at first perturbed by the noise of the engine. Soon he began to enjoy it, and then, coming down, “Bob” put his paws on the side of the cockpit, looked over, and surveyed the landscape. Relief was needed for a relief society itself in New Plymouth recently. Members of the National Council of Women were working at making parcels on a Friday evening in the soldiers’ club, distributing the pounds of goods, sent in through the schools for tlie relief of necessitous families. The borough lights failed and th work was held up until one of the members found that someone had sent in a pound of candles. ‘“Signed, by “A Working Girl,” the following letter was received yesterday by Mr. P. E. Stainton, chairman of the New Plymouth Relief Committee: “Enclosed please find. 10s. towards the relief funds. After .reading your letter in the paper I am constrained to send my small contribution, and only wish it were more. Wishing you success in the pound and other schemes for the relief of the needy, especially thfi children.”

On an out-back road of the Pohangina county can bo seen to-day a small tent, a rough shelter covered with sacks, and near at hand a primitive cowbail. All are erected on the roadside, the tent being the living quarters of a man and the sack-covercd structure his carshed. His six cows graze on the road. Christchurch girls are taking up cricket with whole-hearted enthusiasm and will appear this season neatly garbed in white fuji with ties or handkerchief and club colours, with white sandshoes and white stockings. Ten teams are ready to take the field and it is hoped that other teams will be forthcoming.

An unusual sight was seen on the Ocean Beach, near Dunedin, when millions of mutton birds flew close inshore just above the surface of the water. As a rule the birds pass the beach some considerable distance off-shore, but it seemed on this occasion as if they were driving a shoal of small fish inshore for a feast in the shallow water. They seemed to work systematically from Lawyer’s Head to St. Clair, the huge army of birds moving in orderly formation, like an army at manoeuvres.

"If teachers thought that by consenting to a further cut in salary they would save injurious economies in education, then that consent would be freely given,” said Mr. H. F. Penlington, headmaster of the Richmond School, in an address to the Canterbury School Committees Association. “We have the welfare of tho children at heart as much as anyone. I move amongst teachers and discuss matters with them, and I know.”

“The people of Sydney were much more cheerful on our return visit than when \yo passed through, last March,” stated Mr. A. V. Pizzey on his return to Palmerston North after a trip abroad. “Taxation is nevertheless very heavy across the Tasman and the incoming Australian is required, to pay much more than the original cost on any article brought into the country from abroad,” added Mr. Pizzey.

“You should, have mad© a collection for the board’.s funds; this is a fine opportunity,”. remarked an elderly woman to the chairman of the Stratford. Hospital Board, Mr. W. L. Kennedy, after the ante-natal clinic had been opened. Tho woman -gave a email donation to Mr* Kennedy who, • while proferring thanks, said that if the donor’s spirit were matched by her purse the board’s financial difficulties would, soon be disposed of.

Recent developments in tha political sphere affecting the spending powers of Government departments have kept the heads of those department busily engaged in Wellington, says the Poverty Bay Herald, engagements made previously having bird to go by the board for the time being. Mr. T. "B. Strong, Director of Education, was to have pkid a visit to Poverty Bay during late .September, but advice is still being awaited as to the date of his arrival in Gisborne-

Included in tlie takings at the Blenheim Rowing Club’s dance was a silver “fourpence,” minted in 1837, in the reign of. William IV. The English fourpennypiece has long been out of circulation. It was originally introduced to the currency by Edward 111. and was known as the “silver groat.” The coin was a recognised unit of the currency until 1856. when it was withdrawn, but many of the older generation will remember it in circulation, although it was rarely seen even 30 years ago.

University examinations for degrees, senior and Tinline scholarships, and other examinations, commence in the Argicultural Hall, New Plymouth,. on November 2, at 9.30 a.m., and extend until November 18. Mr. H. Dempsey will again act as supervisor. There are almost 130 candidates, made up as follow: Accountancy Professional, 64; DL.>B. and Law Professional, 11; 8.A., Stage 1., 13, Stage H. 10, final B.A. 1; Diploma of Banking, 6; B.Com. and Accountancy (Professional, 3; First BJSc., 1; Final 8.5c.,1; B.Sc. in Home Science, 1; Diploma in Social' Science, 1; Diploma in Journalism, 1; Honours and Masters’ examination, 2; Insurance, 1.

In these. days of widespread unemployment an advertiser who has a vacant situation invariably receives numerous inquiries for tno position. Recently one Auckland firm called for the services of an engineer, and will doubtless long remember the outcome, remarks the New Zealand Herald. By some mischance the advertisement omitted to state what kind of engineer was required. As a result the prospective employers were faced with the selection of one man from nearly 600 applicants. Engineers of every classification, mechanical, civil, consulting, marine, and many another combined to swell what must be a record even in times like the present. Astonishment at the scarcity of pineapples and the high price of oranges by a Brisbane merchant in Dunedin recently. He said that in Brisbane pineapples cost 2d,, each, and oranges id each. A great many returned soldiers were growing pineapples, and were in despair of finding a market for their goods, not a small quantity the fruit going to waste each season. “The pineapples I saw in the South Island shops were very poor, yet they cost Is 6d or more,” he said. “Those procurable in Brisbane for 2d or 3d are much larger, and more succulent. It is the same with the oranges. Our 24-a-shilling ones are much larger than your 400 per cent, dearer oranges- It seems to me a great pity that there is not some regular shipping service between Brisbane and South Island ports.”

Those young men contemplating the purchase of one of the Melbourne, Ltd.’s all-leather coats at the special price 89s. 6d. are requested to make an early call, as the coats are selling fast. This offering has resulted in making this stylo of coat more popular than ever. All sizes in, stock at present. The fair held by the St. Aubyn Methodist Ladies Guild in New Plymouth on Thursday afternoon realised the very satisfactory sum of £2B. During the afternoon items were given by Mesdames P. Fredric, F. Cornwall and A. B. Macdonald.

The proceeds of the iFitzroy Holy Trinity Church spring fair are over £BO. The winners of the various competitions were: Iced cake (31b. 70z.), Miss K. Hamerten (guessed 31b. 6Joz.); Christmas cake (81b. 20z.), Mrs. A. Papps (81b. 2£oz.); tray (684 grains of wheat), Miss Mahon, Bell Block (665); throwover and covers (string 2yds. 19in.), Mrs. Binns and Miss A. Gentles (lin. off); nightdress, Mrs. Gannaway; ham, Mrs. Alley; duck, Mrs. Kyngdon; sultana cake, Mrs. Day; cherry cake, Mrs. Akers; trousseau, Mrs. D. Brokenshire; teapot and cosy, Mrs. Greatbatch; fancy cosy, Mrs. Akers. The Fitzroy Seaside Park Society has under construction au 18-hole golf course, and a considerable amount of preparatory work .has been done. It is hoped that all interested in tho formation of the course will attend the annual meeting to be held on Thursday next in the Fitzroy public hall, at 8 p.m., when the scheme will (be explained. If support is forthcoming from those interested it should be possible to complete the course within a reasonable time.

A cup to go with the championship in earth pit ensilage in the farmers’ field competitions has been donated by Messrs. Andrew Clement and Sons.

Mefition that the present difficult times rqade it impossible to promote a scheme for a permanent cathedral for Auckland was made by Archbishop Averill in his charge to the Synod at Auckland on Thursday. He said it was hoped that at the present session a definite step might be taken in order that the centenary of the arrival of Bishop Selwyfi in 1342 might be marked by the first contribution to the realisation of his vision of a permanent cathedral. Auckland, he believed, would have responded to a scheme of finance had the times been normal, but as they were not tlie project had to be postponed.

The culture of many New Zealand voices has been mentioned, says the New Zealand Herald, by Mr. Gaston Mervale, the Auckland Little Theatre Society’s new producer, as being one ot the pleasurable surprises of his arrival in the Dominion. Speaking after a performance of “This Woman Business in the Town Hall concert chamber, Mr. Mervale said that during his sojourn in Australia he had been accused of “putting it on” when he spoke. The contrast between the speech heard in Sydney and that heard in Auckland was very noticeable and it had given him every satisfaction to hear the well-trained voices of tlie performers in tho Auckland society’s current play.

The dining room at the Auckland railway station is to be closed for an indefinite period, states the New Zealand Herald. For some time the refreshment rooms have not received much patronage from travellers, and over six weeks ago the tearoom, which is separate from the dining room, was closed. Light refreshments have been served since then in the main dining room. This economy has not proved sufficient and as there has been no increase in patronage, tho dining room is now to be closed- .The dining room in the basement, at which a cheaper meal is available, and which is patronised by the staff as well as the public, will also be closed.

“I have received several complaints regarding motorists who have left their cars at the side of the road with their lights full on,” stated the Southland Motor Association’s road officer at the monthly meeting of the association. .It is a dangerous but common practice, generally caused through thoughtlessness,” he added. Mr- J. R- Haigh said he doubted if anything could be done in the matter, as the regulations did not appear to cover the practice in question. io make- matters worse,” said the road officer, “the cars are often left on the wrong side of the road. It is not the parked cars that cause the trouble so much as those left standing in the road. It was decided to draw attention to the necessity for motorists to exercise more care in this respect .

In the course of a .statement upon the unemployed problem in America, Mr. S; H. Strawn, president of the United States Chamber of Commerce, anticipates that.unless a specific programme is Drought forward before December to deal with it, there will be more agitation for dole and similar measures of relief than ever heard in England or Germany. Such relief, he said, should be primarily local. Expressing his opposition to any - Federal dole system, he said:, “The idea of any Federal dole system is simply appalling. Everything possible should be done to forestall it. We need merely to study the effect of the dole system in England to realise what it would mean in this country. If it _is ever adopted here the result will be increased idleness, for it will encourage those who do not want to work to live on the Gvernment-”